Unavailability of trucks affect lifting of wheat

Even as it brought relief from the heat, unseasonal rain on Friday morning for more than four hours ensured that the administration had to sweat it out to ensure the minimum loss to the wheat crop in grain markets.

There were not enough plastic sheets availed to cover more than 15.5 lakh wheat bags lying in the open in wheat bags across the district.

However, another problem that has assumed serious proportions now is the non-availability of trucks to load the procured crop.

Sources said that trucks which were earlier lifting wheat stock from grain markets had been diverted to lifting wheat for the Central pool (specials), resulting in little loading of wheat in the district.

The rain on Friday made it difficult for the on-duty truck to reach the grain market, hampering the procurement process even further.

The problem could worsen over the next few days as more specials are scheduled.

Talking to Hindustan Times, farmer Joga Singh of Kariha village, said, "The availability of plastic sheets will have saved the crop. However, stagnant water has dampened the grains. I have asked my family to arrange fans so that the grains are dried."

Commission agent Makhan Singh Grewal said, "On Wednesday and Thursday, non-availability of trucks meant that the crop was not lifted and now the rain. Only if the administration had ensured transport, Friday's rain will not have been that much of a problem."

It has also been leant that agents have not been receiving payments since April 20, due to a technical snag in the system.

Talking to HT, district mandi officer, Harminder Singh, said "Trucks were busy in 'special' on Wednesday and now on Friday, rain has hit lifting."